Car construction



Oct. 1, 1935.

G. AJSUCKFIELD CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 6- ATTORN Y G. A. SUCKFIELD CAR CONSTRUCTION Oct. l, 1935.

Filed Aug. 9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 AT'TOR Patented Dot. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE i CAB. CONSTRUCTION George A. Suckfield, Avalon, Pa., assignor to Pressed Steel Car Company, McKees Rocks, Pa.,- a corporation of New Jersey Application August 9, 1933, Serial No. 684,422

17 Claims.

This invention pertains to railway cars having open tops and of the type known as gondola and hopper cars. The invention pertains particularly to roofs for such cars, such roofs being readily detachable from the car and adapted to hinge about either side of the car.

Railway cars as used in freight service fall into two classes, namely house or box cars, and open top cars. The open top cars include hopper, gondola, and fiat cars. Generally, when shipping i lading requiring protection from the weather the suggested and some actually placed in service.

Some have used a roof formed of separate pieces and which were assembled piece-meal upon the car and taken off in a like manner. Others split the roof longitudinally and hinged each half uponthe car sides.

Each of these methods had outstanding disadvantages. When made of a, purality of loose pieces considerable labor was necessary in covering and uncovering the lading and likewise the loose pieces were apt to become lost. When the roof was split longitudinally and hinged about each side of the car the upstanding halves of the roof were in the way of the loadingand unloading apparatus and difiiculties arose in holding the roof sections in raised position. Other methods used had disadvantages of one sort or another such as the difficulty of sealing the joint between the roof and the car and the difliculty of assembling and removing the roof from the car when the car was used first with the roof and later Without the roof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a roof for an open top car which has an adequate weather seal engaging the ends and sides of the closed position and providing readily releasable means which retain the roof upon the car during transit or unloading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily releasable and automatically engaging means to hold the roof in raised position.

These and other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part of this description Fig. 1 shows in elevation a portion of an open top car equipped with the invention; Fig. 2 shows in elevation the end of a car equipped with the invention and in dot and dash lines illustrates the roof when in raised position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the roof and car taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing details of the mechanism for holding the car roof in raised position; Fig. 6 is a section through the same mechanism on lines 6-6 of Fig. 2 illustrating the automatic locking and releasing details; Figs. 7 and 8 show side and end elevations of the' locking roof hinges; Figs. 9 and 10 are views of the plain roof hinges; Fig. 11 is a section taken on lines H--H of Fig. 1 showing in detail the roof carlines and support for the running board. Fig. 12 shows a sectional view taken along the. line lZ-IZ of Fig. 8 with the locking mechanism in released position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference character I indicates an open top railway car having sides and end walls. Extending 1ongitudinally of the side and end walls, defining the top thereof, is a member 2. Thismember is angular in shape, preferably having a depending flange 3 fitting over the outer side of the wall, a horizontal flange 4 disposed transversely of the wall, an inner vertical flange 5, and an out,- wardly turned flange 6.

The roof I is preferably in one piece and comprises transversely disposed carlines 8 spaced by central longitudinally disposed di-aphragms 9 which are secured to opposite sides of the carlines 8. A longitudinally disposed member I0 extends beneath and connects the carlines 8 and diaphragms 9. Theouter ends of the carlines 8 45 are connected'by longitudinally disposed members I! and i2 and the whole covered by top roof sheets l3 and side roof sheets l4. As will be observed from an inspection of the drawings the members I2 of the roof bear on the members 2 of the car side and end walls to form a rigid support for the roof. A member l2 secured to the member. 12 bears upon. the flange .6 of

the'member 2 and combines with the member l2 in forming a support and weather seal between roof and car wall. A suitably disposed running board l5 completes the roof and meets the safety requirements. In this connection, it is obvious that the roof and running board can be split longitudinally so as to be formed in two pieces, if so desired.

At each side of the roof are hinges detachably securing the roof to the car. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the hinges l6 adjacent the ends of the car are equipped with looking devices and the intermediate hinges i l are not equipped with looking devices but have embodied therein lifting eyes.

The hinge i6 comprises a base portion l9 secured to the car side and an upper portion 20 secured to the car roof. The upper end of the base portion I9 is bifurcated and on each of the bifurcations is formed an open topped bearing 2| for a hinge pin. Depending from the portion 20 of the hinge are spaced arms 22 having openings adjacent the lower ends thereof in which is mounted a hinge pin 23. The arms 22 fit within the bifurcated base portion of the hinge and the hinge pin is supported in the bearings 25. The arms 22 engaging the opposing faces of the bearings 2| prevent lateral displacement of the hinge portions I9 and 26 and consequently displacement ef the roof with relation to the car sides.

To prevent accidental separation of the two portions of the hinge 15 under any service conditions a locking device is provided. This looking device comprises a member 25 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the hinge portion is by means of the pin 35. One end of the member Zehas a hook-shaped end portion 25 which embraces the hinge pin 23 and the other end 26 of the member 24 engages an abutment member 2'! movably mounted on the hinge portion l9. Attached to the member 21 isa rod 23 which is connected to an operating mechanism mounted in a bracket 29 secured to the car side. The operating mechanism comprises a ring shaped member 38 within which is mounted a cam shaped portion 3| pivotally mounted on the bracket 29 by means of a pin 32 and a handle 33 is connected to the cam 3i.

The operation of the locking device is as follows: with the parts in the relation as shown by Figs. 7 and 8 the member 24 engages the hinge pin 23 and the abutment member 2?. In this position the member 24 is held fast and effectively secures the portions l9 and 29 of the hinge together. It will be observed by reference to the drawings that the member 2 5 when in such position as described does not interfere with the rotation of the portion 20 of the hinge upon the portion 59 but merely prevents vertical separation of the portions I9 and 20. To release the member 2a the arm 33 of the operating device is raised from the stop 36 on the bracket 29 and rotated upwardly. This movement of the arm causes a counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 3! within the ring 3d causing the ring and rod 28 to move upwardly. This upward movement of the rod 28 carries the abutment member 27 upwardly until the lip 35 on the abutment 2? engages the end 25 of the member 24. Further upward movement of the abutment member 2? rotates the member 2A in a counter-clockwise direction until the hook portion 25 of the member 24 is moved free of the hinge pin 23. In this position of the members the two parts of the hinge l9 and 26 may be separated in a vertical direction.

The intermediate hinges of the car comprise a base portion 3i secured to the car side and a portion 38 secured to the roof. The portion 3'! is bifurcated similarly to the portion l9 and has bearings 39 on each of the bifurcations. The portion 38 has depending arms id extending within the bifurcation and a hinge pin inserted adjacent the lower ends of the arms ii], which hinge pin M is supported in the bearings 39. No looking device is provided on the hinges 9'5 but the portion 33 of the hinge has incorporated therein a lifting eye 42 which may be engaged by any suitable device for raising the roof, it being understood that duplicate hinges l5 and H are disposed on opposite sides of the car and when it is desired to raise the roof about the left side of the car by rotation upon its hinges the locking devices on the hinges It at the right side only of the car need be released and a suitable mechanism is engaged in the eyes d2 of the hinges I! on the right side of the car to raise the roof which pivots upon the hinge pins 23 in the hinges E6 on the left side of the car.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings in which is illustrated an end view of the car and a means for retaining the roof in raised position, which position is illustrated in dot and dash lines. This means comprises a track 53 disposed transversely of the end wall of the car adjacent the top thereof. On each side of the vertical center line of the end of the car are suitably disposed bearings M secured to the roof and pivotally mounted on these bearings are the arms 45 and 46, the free ends of the arms %5 and it terminating in transversely disposed portions 55 and 46 engaging the track 33. Referring now to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the track G3 is in two sections, the inner ends of the track sections terminating short of the vertical center line of the end of the car and secured toa bracket 6? disposed on the vertical end wall of the car. The outer ends of the track sections are supported in suitably formed brackthe arms 45 and 46. Mounted within the bracket 4'! is a suitable device for retaining the roof in raised position when pivoted about either side of the car.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings suitably disposed pockets 69 are mounted in the bracket 47 adjacent each side of the center line and disposed within the pockets are compression springs 56. On each side of the vertical center line of the end of the car and within the bracket 4'! are members 5! pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on pins 52. One end of the member extends within a slot 53 of the pocket 59 and engages the spring 58, the opposite end of the member 5! engaging a cam shaped abutment member 54 pivotally mounted within the bracket 4?. As will be observed from Figs. 2 and 6, the inner ends of the sections of the track t?) have slots registering with the slots 53 of the spring pockets 49 and one end of the member 5! extends within the track sections as illustrated. With the cam shaped abutments 54 in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the members can rotate to compress the springs 50 but are prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by the cams 54. Attached to each cam 54 is an operating handle 55 and it will be observed that when the handle 55 is rotated upwardly the face of the cam rotates the member 5| to .compress the spring 56 and move the member 5| within the slot in the spring pocket and entirely free of the slot in the track sections 43 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

With the roof in position as shown in full lines on Fig. 2 and it is desired to rotate the roof about its hinges on the left side of the car as previously described, the following action takes place. It will be observed that when the roof is closed the ends of the members 45 and 45 rest in the outer ends of the track sections 43. When the roof is rotated about the hinges on the left side of the car the arm 45 remains in fixed relation to the roof and pivoting about the outer ends of the track section in the bracket 48 on the left side of the car. The arm 46 pivoting on the bracket 44 moves inwardly of the car in the track 43 until the end of the arm engages the member 5|. Further movement of the arm 46 moves the member 5| down into the spring pocket 49 and compresses the spring 56. As the arm 46 passes over the member 5| to the inner end of the track sections 43, the spring 56 moves the member 5| upward Within the track sections 43 and behind the end of the arm 46. This position of the arm 46 and the roofis shown in dot and dash lines on of the arms would be necessary and their cooper- Fig.2. It will be obvious, therefore, that inasmuch as the member 5| on the right sideof the car is prevented from rotating in a clock-wise direction by reason of the cam 54, the member 5| serves as an abutment to hold the arm 46 in the position shown in dot and dash lines, retaining the roof in raised position. When it is desired to lower the roof the handle 55 on the right side of the car is rotated upwardly which moves the attached cam 54 to impart a counter-clockwise movement to the member 5| and as the member 5| moves outof the slot in the track sections 43 the arm 46 can move outwardly of the car permitting the roof to be lowered. It is to be understood that a track and its cooperating mechanism is mounted on each end of the car so as to provide suitable supports for the roof when in raised position.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that many changes may be made in the details of the invention herein described without depart- 3 ing from the scope of the appended claims. Several contemplated changes would be in the details of the track and the abutmentmerhbers -5| yet retaining the idea of a guide for the arms 45 and 46 having a stop limiting inward movement of the arms and a movable abutment engaging behind the end of the arms to retain the roof in raised position. When the roof is adapted to be pivoted about either, side of the car it will be necessary to have both arms such as 45 and 46, whenever the roof is pivoted about one side of the car but one ating mechanism. Obviously, with hinges and hinge locking devices as described the arm which does not move relative to the, roof during the time the roof is being raised, such as the arm 45 illustrated in Fig. 2, serves no useful purpose; how ever, when looking devices are omitted from the hinges the arm 45 would serve as an additional guide for the roof and to assist in retaining the roof in position upon the car. It will also be obvious that many changes can be made in the design of the roof and the hinges. It is preferable,

however, to retain bearings for the hinge pins such as described so as to permit the roof to be readily assembled and removed from the car with a mini- 5 mumof effort. The locking devices described are useful during the time the car is in transit as well as when the car roof is being raised, to retain the roof upon the car. The lifting eyes may be made separate from the hinges, if desired. Many suitable forms of devices for operating the hinge lock may be used.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An open top railway car having in combination, a one piece roof for closing said open top, a hinge at each side of said roof and connected to a carside wall, and a member connected to the roof at each side of the longitudinal center line of the car, each of said members being connected to the car end wall at the opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the car, said roof being adapted to be raised upon either of said hinges and held in raised position by said member connected to the opposite side of the car.

2. An open top railway car having a one piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car upon hinges secured to the roof and car side walls, in combination, a locking member secured to one of said side wall hinge portions selectively engaging the portion'of said hinge secured to the car roof, and a readily releasable member securing the locking member in engaging position. 35

3. An open top railway car having a one piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car in a vertical direction upon two piece hinges secured to either side of the roof and the adjacent car side wall,

4. An open top railway car having a one piece roof closing the top opening and pivotally mounted to each car side wall by a two piece hinge secured to the roof and car wall,in combination, an angular member secured to the top of the car side and extending substantially the length of the 1 roof, a horizontally disposed flange on said member, a vertical flange on the inner edge of said horizontal flange, extending above said car and having an outwardly turned end portion, and longitudinally disposed members secured to said roof adapted to engage said horizontal flange and outwardly turned end portion.

5. An open top railway car having a one piece ro'of closing the opening, in combination, a two piece hinge at each side of the car secured to the roof and car side respectively, a trunnion secured to the roof portion of the hinge, a bearing for said trunnion embodied in the car wall portion of the hinge, a member pivotally mounted adjacentthe bearing and adapted to engage the trunnion to prevent separation of trunnion and bearing,an abutment movably mounted upon the wall hinge, adapted to hold said member in engagement with the trunnion and to release'the member from the F trunnion.

6. An open top car having a roof closing the opening and hinged to each side of the car for selective pivoting about either side to permit access to the interior of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a slot in said track extending from adjacent the outer end of the track to adjacent the vertical 7 center line of the car, a roof supporting member pivoted at one end adjacent a side of the roof and extending across the car to adjacent the opposite side of the roof, said member seating within said slot, a member pivotally mounted on the car and seating within the track adjacent the inner end of said slot, resilient means resisting downward rotation of said member, and a stop selectively resisting upward rotation of the member, said roof supporting member being adapted to seat behind said latter member and within the slot when the roof is rotated about one side of the car and to pivot within the slot adjacent the outer end thereof when the roof is pivoted about the opposite side ofthe car.

7. An open top car body having a roof for closing the opening, in combination, a hinge at each side of the car. about which the roof is raised, a track disposed transversely of the end of the car end wall, a support pivotally connected to the roof and engaging. the track a corner cap on the car, and a slotted box shaped projection formed on the corner cap, said projection formingv an end wall of the said track.

8. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof closing the opening, in combination, a twopiece hinge at each side of the car secured to the roof and car side respectively, a trunnion secured to the roof portion of the hinge, a bearing for said trunnion in the car wall portion of the hinge, a member pivotally mounted adjacent the bearing and adapted to engage the trunnion to prevent separation of trunnion and bearing, an abutment movably mounted upon the wall hinge, said abutment having a portion adapted to hold said member in engagement with the trunnion and a lip adapted to release the member from the trunnion.

9. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof closing the opening, in combination, a twopiece hinge at each side of the car secured to the roof and car side respectively, a trunnion secured to the roof portion of the hinge, a bearing for said trunnion embodied in the car wall portion of the hinge, a member pivotally mounted adjacent the bearing and adapted to engage the trunnion to prevent separation of trunnion and bearing, an abutment adapted to hold said member in engagement with the trunnion and to release the member from the trunnion and an operating mechanism connected to the abutment adapted to move said abutment within the car wall portion.

10. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof closing the opening, in combination, a twopiece hinge at each side of the car secured to the roof and car side respectively, a trunnion secured to the roof portion of the hinge, a bearing for said trunnion embodied in the car wall portion of the hinge, a member pivotally mounted adjacent the bearing and adapted to engage the trunnion to prevent separation of trunnion and bearing, an abutment adapted to hold said memher in engagement with the trunnion and to release the member from the trunnion, and a cam shaped operating mechanism pivotally mounted beneath the car wall portion and connected to the abutment adapted to move within the car wall portion.

11. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a bracket secured to the end Wall at the vertical center line thereof adapted to support said track, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the center line of the car and extending across the car to opposite sides thereof, said members being adapted to engage the track.

12. An open top railway car having a onepiece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car having a slotted opening therein, a bracket secured to the end wall adapted to support said track, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the vertical center of the car and extending across the car to opposite sides thereof, said members seating within said slot and adapted to engage the track.

13. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a bracket secured to the end wall adapted to support said track, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the center line of the car and extending across the car to opposite sides thereof and engaging the track, and means within said bracket adapted to engage the roof supporting member when the roof is in raised position.

14. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a bracket secured to the end wall adapted to support said track, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the center line of the car and extending across the car to opposite sides thereof and engaging the track, and a member pivotally mounted within the bracket adapted to extend within the track to engage the roof supporting member when the roof is in raised position.

15. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a bracket secured to the end Wall adapted to support said track, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the center line of the car and extending across the car to opposite sides thereof and engaging the track, a member pivotally mounted within the bracket extending into the track to engage the roof supporting member when the roof is in raised position and a resilient means maintaining the pivotally mounted member in engaging position.

16. An open top railway car having a one-piece roof detachably mounted thereon and adapted to pivot about either side of the car, in combination, a track disposed transversely of one end of the car, a bracket secured to the end wall adapted to support said track at the vertical center line of the car, a corner cap having a projection adapted to support the track adjacent the sides of the car, roof supporting members pivotally connected to the roof on opposite sides of the vertical center of the car and extending across the car to opposaid abutment site sides thereof, said members adaptedto engage the track. t

17. In a railway car, a body having side and end walls, an angular member defining the top of 5 each Wall and comprising a portion secured to in an upwardly directed re-entrant flange, a roof for said body being supported on said horizonta1 portions of said roof members, an inwardly directed flange on said roof overlapping said reentrant flanges to form a weather seal.

GEORGE A. SUCKFIELD. 

